We often think of the local Community Food Bank as an arm of our government's welfare system. Most state and communities have a Community Food Bank especially in large areas.

Basically the Community Food Bank helps a person who is hungry and that does not mean just homeless people. Many older people and children are hungry as are people who have jobs, but do not make enough to cover all their expenses. Food banks just help all kinds of people who are hungry.

For older people there is usually a program called Senior Brown Bag and these bags are delivered to needy older folks once a month by volunteers.

Food banks often supply infant boxes for a family who have a new baby or they will provide emergency food boxes and these boxes are usually canned or dried foods that do not have to be refrigerated.

Most food banks also offer food that does not have to be cooked to people who do not have kitchens.

Food banks receive food from companies who have a surplus and they donate the food and get a tax write off. Food banks partner with corporations and local community food donors.

Many people volunteer to work at food banks and often some of those people are gardeners who teach people how to grow their own food. If someone wants to have a garden in their yard, the food bank volunteers will teach them how plant the garden so they can grow vegetables and herbs themselves. The Food Bank will usually supply the seeds and help with the tools.

To get food at a food bank, most people just have to ask. Some food banks may charge a small fee for a very large box of food if the applicant can afford to pay for it. This helps people supplement their food budget and allows them to give better quality food to their family.

Often, many people who do not need these types of services do not realize there is a community food bank in their area. One can check them out through their local church or chamber of commerce and then they can decide whether or not they would like to volunteer a few hours a week of their time. Food banks always need volunteers to deliver food boxes and bags, stock grocery shelves, bag and box food, help with gardening services and many other things that are connected with a Community Food Bank.

Should there not be a Community Food Bank in your area and you feel there should be one then help start one.

Learn more about this author, Arlene Wright-Correll.
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